Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-29

by far the most effective speech
called forth by the discussion of the
proposed amendment OF the Gag
Law" was that OF Mr.. Jno. X. Toole
OF Deer Lodge, who favo.ed the
amendment and delivered his opinion
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman: This question has
now been discussed IN nearly all lis
lights and bearings, the legal iralerni.
~ have cast the rays OF their lamps OF
knowledge upon IL; the gentleman
from Madison county has discussed it
from the standpoint OF oue who Is an
employer OF men, aud now | ask leave
to present to you my views, Us coming
from u VINO Is himself one OF the
army Of worklngmen. VINO for fifteen
years, through these valleys and over
these mountains, has followed the vo-
cation OF u miner, or aught else that
came to hand, and who will probably
leave this hall TO again resume the
same walk Ia life; but, sir, IL Is only In
the feeble, desullory, and insufficient
manner Of one who has neve spoken
q word in public until entering this
body, that | can present my views TO
you, but not to waste time 10 words,
but 10 get at the pith Of the subject un-
der discussion. ! believe, SIR, that
every member of this body is cogui.
cant of the fact that the attention that
10Y is, and has been, bestowed upon
this subject, is nothing but a piece of
ingenious political buncombe, brought
about by willy politicians who
instead of caring aught for
the interests Of the working man,
only seek to gain political preferment
for themselves and TO further their
own selfish purposes. My career in
political life has not been q long one,
and to me, during the last campaign,
n OF the most touching and pathetic
things 10 witness was the earnestness
and solicitude aud zeal manifested in
behalf Of the poor working man. Why,
sir, they went down into the mines
and out into these valleys OF the
mountains aud gathered him to their
bosoms aud fairly wept over his woes,
especially those who were q years OF
age and entitled to votes. /, In com.
mon with many others, had no knowl-
edge Of such a law upon our statute
books until il was dug up by some as.
piring politician, and held up to US as
an engine Of oppression, enacted TO
grind the faces of the poor. Then, sir,
l turned my attention to 1t, and upon
inves tigation thought that IL was q
severe law, and that the two last Sec
lions should be repealed and the bal
nee amended, and that o is the
position take, and have
30 reported from the committee,
but. sir, to say that the working
men Of Montsna are unanimous
in asking for an absolute and total
repeal, | take TO be an insult to their
intelligence, q libel upon .heir mo-
tives, and an impeachment of their
principles. BY saying that they ask
the absolute repeal OF this law. the in.
ference would be that IL is their inten.
ton and purpose to violate II; but the
intelligent and consistent course pur.
sued by the workingmen Of this whole
country for the past two years COM
pletely refutes any sue / base assertion.
They know, sir, that II Is not by any
such questionable or devious methods
as the repeal Of this law that they eau
reach the goal toward which they
are tending, and II In only by an
intelligent aud comprehensive under.
standing Of their OWL rights and the
rights Of Others, that they seek 10 al.
just and settle the problems that con-
front them. / would not for a moment
assert, sir, that aughi ssvoring Of dem
agoguery prompts the uttersnce OF
any member here to-day. | want to
believe that all OF that was left outside
the door when they entered this bal
and that rs an intelligent aud repre-
sentative body Of men | know each
one will act and vote for what hs
thinks 10 be right. I believe, sir. thai
this amendment il right ana just, and
hope II will prevail.